Apparatus for washing over, releasing, and withdrawing tubular tructures from wells



2,449,841 EAS ING, D

ES FROM W S P 1, 1948. R. M. CLAYPOOL arm.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING ovmz, REL

wmummwme BULAR STRUCTUR ed March 6} 19 INVENTORS. Z5 OBB/MS M Clam P001, 13 Dav/0 M 55.57;

Patented Sept. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR WASHING ovEn', RE-

LEASING, AND WITHDRAWING TUBU- LAB STRUCTURESFROM WELLS Robbins M. Claypool, Bellaire, and David Mne t, Houston, Tex. V l

Application March 6, 1947, Serial No.732,860

18 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus forperforming the operations of washing over, releasing, and withdrawing from well bores that portion of pipe or tubing located at the bottom of the well bore, including or excluding any tool, packer, anchoring arrangement or other device which may have been installed with and as an integral part of said pipe or tubing, when said anchoring arrangement and/or lower portion of said tubing becomes stuck, fouled or otherwise cannot be pulled. H

The primary object of the invention is to provide means of the character indicated in which all of. the said operations are performed with means forming a part of and incorporated in the original setting hook-up assembly, thereby substantially eliminating the necessity for unscrewing, cutting in two, or otherwise releasing tubing string and removing same and then making various other trips into the well bore for the purpose of washing over, reversing, cutting and/or jar ring in order to successively remove the balance of the tubing string, tool, packer, anchoring ar rangement or other device.

A further object of the invention is to provid a means of the character indicated comprising a threaded screw-through joint, preferably including a rotary milling shoe, releasably join binations thereof.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made to the accompanying drawing forming a part of the disclosure, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in axial section of the upper portion of the tubing string of the present invention including the screw-through joint;

Fig. 2 is similar view of the lower portion of the tubing string including the release joint;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary axial section I of the screw-through joint; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary axial section of a modified form of screw-through joint, parts being shownsomewhat exaggerated for clearness,

30 through t In the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, are shown the preferred embodiments of our invention, and referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral l designates the i 5 upper portion or wash pipe of the tubing string v of the present invention. The wash pipe I may comprise one or more sections, and if more than one, the various sections are preferably con-. nected together insuch a manner as to render 1 the pipe surfaces flush both externally andinprises the tubing or pipe 2 having a smaller outer diameter than th inner diameter ,Of the pipe I to provide an annular passage for. drilling mud or other fluid when thepipe l is .telescoped over the pipe 2 in a manner to be later. described.

The tubing 2 may also comprise one or more sections, and if more than one, the several sections arepreferably connected together in such a manner as to render the pipe-surfaces :flush both externally and internally, although it is more importantthat the tubing be flush externally than internally due to the telescoping action previously noted.

The wash pipe I and thetubing 2 are releasably joined or connected together by means of a screwjoint generally indicated by the numeral 3. i i

The screw-through joint 3 comprises a relatively short tubular member or section 4 having preferably the same outer diameter as the pipe l, but

a smaller inner diameter than the pipe I, and

hence the, member 4 is of generally thicker construction than the pip I. The inner diameter of the member 4 is greater, however, thanthe outer diameter of the tubing 2, and the inner diameter of the upper end portion 5 of the member 4 is gradually increased to equal the inner diameter of the pipe I, and is provided with an outwardly olfset internally threaded end 6 receiving the inwardly oifset externally threaded lower end 1 of the pipe I. The connection just described pro- ,vides an, internally and externally flush connection and similar connections may be used throughout. in the pipe I if it is constructed of a plurality of sections. The member 4 is additionally providedinternally witha screw thread 8,

and the lower end thereof is provided with hardfaced cutting teeth 9. Thus the member 4, or the lower portion thereof may be considered a rotary milling'shoe.

The screw-through joint 3 further comprises a relatively short tubular member or section Ill ing 2, and is provided with an inwardly offset externally threaded end I2 received withinthe outwardly offset internally threaded upper I3 of the tubing 2. scribed provides an internally and u externally flush connection and similar connections maybe used throughout the tubing 2 if constructedo f The connection-just 'de a plurality of sections. The member I 0 is ad ditionally provided externally with a screw thread I4 receiving thescrew thread 8 of the member 4.

The. outer diameter. of the member-till isobVlously substantially equal to the inner diameter of the member '4, and preferably; but not necessarily, this diameter is the median of-the internal diameter of the pipe I andthe external diame terof the tubing 2. Thus when the pipe. I is telescoped over the tubing 2 in the mannerto be later described, passageways of substantially equal area will be provided between the memher It land pipe I, and'the memberd and tubing 2, for the passage of drilling mud, etc.

To prevent screwing through of the'screwthrough joint 3, i. e., rotation of the member 4 relative to the member I0, until the actual need for it arises, a special plastic packing seal #5 is applied to" the threads 8 and I4 just prior to assembly. A suitable plastic is diallyl phthalate prepolymer technn'lcal, a newly deve1oped'mate'-" rial brought out by She'll Development Corporation. The plastic packing seal I5; upon hardening or setting, renders the screw-through joint 3 sufiiciently rigidor resistant to all *ofthe torque necessary for the manipulation "of the tubing during all setting operations.

A generally tubular release'joint', generally indicated by the numeral I6 isconnecte d to; the lower end of the tubing 2. "The internal diameter of the release jointflliiis preferably of the same inner diameter asthe tubing' '2 and-asaend of the pipe I.

be left hand threads if desired, it being important only that they all be cut in the same direction.

lower end 23 of the tubing 2 thereby providing a flush connection as previously described.

Preferably all of the threads of the threaded connections above the flange 2I of the release joint I6 are right hand threads, as illustrated. This includes also any such connections as may be'used in'the string of manipulating tubing 24 connected in any suitable manner tothe upper Such threads, however, may

The lower end portion I8 of the release joint I6 is externally threaded as indicated at 25, and thethread 25 is oppositely or reversely cut relative to the other threads in the assembly. Thus, asiilustrated, the thread 25 is a left hand thread.

The thread 25 of the end portion l8 of the release joint IS provides a connection for a tool, packer, anchoring arnangement, or other device, not illustrated.

The manipulative tubing 24 may have the same internal and external dimensions as the tubing 2, and the tubing 24 may be gripped in a rotary table in the conventional manner, which'table' may be actuated to rotate the entire tubing string, or a portion thereof, as will be later described.

With respect to the relative axial lengths or the wash pipe I, andthe tubing 2, the wash pipe I must be sufficiently longer than the tubing 2 that the teeth 9 of the member 4 will seat on or engage the shoulder 2!. Examples of the relative lengths are 20 to 510 feet or overforlthe wash pipe I, 10 to '500 feet or over for the tubing 2. These examples are given merely bywayjof illustration and-n01; by way of limitation.

feet longerthan the tubing 2.

general, the wash pipe I will be from 5= to 1'0 suitably seated in a recess 21 provided in the external wall of the tubular member Ill and extending into an opening 28 provided in the tubular member 4'. g I

, Preferably, the outer end.- portion of; the opening 28 is threaded and the shear pin 26 is'mainthe outer diameter of the upper endportionll land the lower end portion I8 is preferably the same as the outer diameter of the tubing ZL The outer diameter of the upper intermediate portion I 9 of therelease jolnt 'IB isincreased and this portion of the joint is providedwith a screw thread crspline 20 adapted torece'ivejthe thread 8 of the member 4 as indicated bythe" dot-dash lines in Fig. 2.

A radially outwardly extending annular shoul-f der or flange 2i isprovided on the release joint Hi just below the lowerend of the" thread'2ll."

The outer diameter of the shoulder 20 is preferably substantially equal to the outerdiameter of the pipe I and the shoulder functions as a stop member limiting the downward m'oveanent" of the pipe I, member 4, etc hby engaging the teeth 9 of the member dfithereb'y also stopping relative rotation between the pipe I, member 4 and the tubing '2, and causing" the "tubing 2, member IB, and release joint I6 torotat'e with the pipe I and member dwhenthe latterare rotated.

The inner surface of the upper'end 22*of the portion I! of the release joint'IS is'biitwardly offset and provided with a screw threadreceiving the inwardly 'o'ffse't outer surface threaded tained in position by means of a set screw 29.

The shear pin 26 functions as does the plastic packing seal I5 to prevent screwing through" of the screw-through joint 3", i. e., rotation of the member 4 relative to the member ID on the threads 8' and I 1, until the actual need for it arises. ThillS the shear pin 25' renders "the screw-through joint 3 suffi'ciently rigid or resistant to all ofthe torquenecess'ary for" the manipulation of the tubing during allsetting operations.

I, is exerted and if the tubing and packer are free, they may. be withdrawn from the well bore.

To illustrate the operation of our structure, let it be assumed that the string comprises la production tubing string and that a conventional packer is' connected to the thread 25 of the lower portion I8 of the release or safety joint I6.

Then, when it becomes necessary to attempt removal of the production tubing string and packer,

a pull on the tubing 25 from the top of the .well

However, if permissible pulling indicates stuck or fouled condition of [tubing and/onpac'ker, drilling mud or other iiuidjpressure is applied to thestring of tubing, the tubing 24 and wash pipe l 'are rotated tothe right forthe'directional cut ofthe'threads illustrated) with approximately" The modified form of screw-through joint 3 illustrated in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as" the'screW-t'hrough joint 3 except that the plastic packing seal I 5 is replaced by a shear pin 26 500 lbs. weight down, thereby releasing the pack-' ingseal l5'orthe shear 'pin 26, and the member 4 0! the screw-throughv joint 3 screws through down over the tubing 2. Completion of the screwing through .action i easily determined by weight equalization and circulation of drilling mud or other fluid being established through the tubing 24,ithe wash pipe I, the annular passage between the wash pipe I and tubing 2, around the bottom end of the member 4 and upwardly around the exterior of the wash pipe I and tubing 24 tothe top of the well. l l

The rotation and circulation is continued, the teeth 9 cutting away the material packed around the tubing 2, and the circulating drilling mud washing down over the flushjoint tubing 2 and removing debris by means ofthe outer telescoping flushjoint wash pipe I, until bypredetermined measurement the top of the packer isw'ithin a few feet, that is, above the portion!!! of therelease joint l6 so that circulation of the drilling fluid may be-continued. When this point is reached, rotation is stopped but circulation and washing down are continued until the packer top is reached. v a Rotation is then continued until the screw thread 8 of the member '4 receives six or eight turns of the threadlll of the releasejoint 16. This condition will beindicated by the stopping of the pumps circulating the drillingifiuid due to the cutting-off ofthe circulation. U i. Y

. Next another attempt to pull the entire string of tubingand packer is made, andif the packer is not vulcanized to the casing, the entire assembly can easily be pulled at this stage.

However, if the packer cannot be pulled, rotation'ot the tubing 24, wash pipe I and member 4 is. continued, the teeth 9 engaging the shoulder 2| and causing, the tubing 2 andrelease joint IE to be turned therewith. Rotation of the release joint 16 causes the thread 25thei'eof to be unscrewed from the packer, and then, all of the tubing-may be withdrawn from the wellzbore.

The packermay then be removed by conventional fishing means. 1 I U Itis possible that after screw through action is completed and washing down procedure is in progress a point might-be. reached in the downward telescoping travelof the washover pipe I over the lower tubing 2, due to dulling of milling shoe, collapse of outer casing lor encounter with junk, beyondwhich downwardly travel can. not becarried. When such a condition is en-, countered, the washover pipe I may be retracted until thescrew through-members 4 and ,Ill are slightly in contact,,then, combining lefthand ro-. tation of the washover pipe i, with aslight upwardpull, the screw through joint -3 is unscrewed and the upper lineot tubing 24 including the, washoverpipe I and the outer member or milling. shoe 4 of the screw through joint may, bewithdrawn from the well bore. After this isdone, the dull or worn milling shoe may be replaced with a new or sharp milling shoe and milling, washover action may be resumedand carried onto completion as previously described. l

If for any reason downward progress of the washover pipe I i discontinued before completing full downward travel, and/or ii for any reason connection can not be made with the release joint l6, anattempt to pull the entire string of tubing including the packer can still be made by simply, retracting or pulling up the washoverpipe l until the shoulders of, screwthroughjoint threads are in. contact, and: then .the necessary,

through: joint 3. Should this happen, the pri mary object of the invention will still have been accomplished. since all tubing may then be easily withdrawn from the well bore.

As before, the packer may then by conventional fishing means.

As stated previously, the structure herein disclosed Iis incorporated in the original production I be removed setting hook-up assembly, thus substantially eliminating the necessity for unscrewing, cutting in two, or otherwise releasing tubular string and removing same and then making various other trips into the well bore for the purpose of washing over, reverslng, cutting and/or jarring in orderto successively remove the balance of the tubing string and production packer. With the structure herein disclosed, only one fishing op-,

eration, atmost, is required.

The initial cost of the structure herein disclosed, i. e., the flush jointtublng, the screwthrough, joint combined with a rotary milling shoe, and the release joint, is only slightly more expensive than the conventional type tubing, and when it is considered that, the average fishing job which the present tructure largely, if not In the above disclosure we have set forth two of the preferred embodiments of our invention,

but, it is to be understood that these are given by way of illustration, and not in limitation thereon We claim:

l 1. A string of tubing for use in wells comprising a wash pipe having a substantially flush inher surface, a line of tubing having a substantially flush outer surface, the inner diameter of said wash pipe being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing, said wash pipe being longer axially than said line of tubing, a screw-through joint connecting said wash pipe to said line of tubing, said screw-through joint comprising an outer, internally threaded tubular member connected to said wash pipe and an inner, externally threaded member connected to said line of tubing and in threaded engagement with said outer member, cutting teeth on the lower end of said outer member, a plastic packing seal releasably joining said outer and inner members, the outer diameter of said inner member and the inner diameter of said outer member being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing and less than the inner diameter of shoulder below said external thread, said release joint also having a lower threaded end, the diouter, internally threaded tubular member connected to said wash pipe and an inner, externally J threaded member connected to said line of tubing and in threaded engagement with said outer member, cutting teeth on the lower end of said outer member, means releasably joining said outer and inner members, the outer diameter of said inner member and the inner diameter of said outer member being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing and less than the inner diameter of said wash pipe, and a tubular joint connected to the lower end of said line of tubing, said tubular joint having an external thread adapted to receive the internal thread of said outer tubular member.

8. A string of tubing for use in wells comprising a wash pipe, a line of tubing, the inner diameter of said wash pipe being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing, said wash pipe being longer axially than said line of tubing, a screw-through joint connecting said wash pipe to said line of tubing, said screw-through joint comprising an outer, internally threaded tubular member connected to said Wash pipe and an inner, externally threaded member connected to said line of tubing and in threaded engagement with said outer member, cutting teeth onthe lower end of said outer member, means releasably joining said outer and inner members, the outer diameter of said inner member and the inner diameter of said outer member being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing and less than the inner diameter of said wash pipe, and a tubular joint connected to the lower end of said line of tubing, said tubular joint having an external thread adapted to receive the internal thread of said outer tubular member.

9. A string of tubing for use in wells comprising a wash pipe having a substantially flush inner surface, a line of tubing having a substantially flush outer surface, the inner diameter of" said wash pipe being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing, a screw-through joint connecting said wash pipe to said line of tubing; said screw-through joint comprising an outer, internaliy threaded tubular member connected to said wash pipe and an inner, externally threaded member connected to said line of tubing and in threaded engagement with said outer member, cutting teeth ,on the lower end of said outer member, means releasably joining said outer and inner members, the outer diameter of said inner member and the inner diameter of said outer member being greater than theouter diameter of said line, of tubing and less than the inner diameter of said wash pipe, anda tubular joint connected to the lower end of said line oftubing, said tubular joint having an external thread adapted to receive the internal thread of said outer tubular member.

10. A string of tubing for use in wells comprising a wash pipe, a line of tubing, the inner diameter of said wash pipe being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing, a screw-through joint connecting said wash pipe to said line of tubing, said screw-through joint comprising an outer, internally threaded tubular member connected to said wash pipe and an inner, externally threaded member connected to said line of tubing and in threaded engagement with said outer member, cutting teeth on the lower end of said outer member, means releasably joining said outer and inner members, the outer diameter of said inner member and the inner diameter of said outer member being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing and less than the inner diameter of said wash pipe,. and a tubular joint connected to the lower end of said line of tubing, said tubular joint having an external thread adapted to receive the internal thread of said outer tubular member.

11. A string of tubing for useinwells comprising a wash pipe having a substantially flush inner surface, a line of tubing having a substantially flush outer surface, the innerdiame'ter'of said wash pipe being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing, said wash pipe being longer axially than saidline of tubing, 3, screw-through joint connecting said wash pipe to said line of tubing, said screw-through joint comprising an outer, internally threaded tubular member connected to said washpipe and an inner, externally threaded member connected to said line of tub ing and in threaded engagement with said outer member, means releasably joining said outer and inner members, the outer diameter of said inner member and the inner diameter of said outer member being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing and less than the inner diameter of said wash pipe, and a tubular releasejoint connected to the lower end of said line of tubing, said release joint having an external thread adapted to receive the internal thread of said outer tubular member and a radially outwardly extending shoulder below said externalthread, said release joint also having a lower threaded end, the direction ofthe thread of said lower threaded end being opposite to the other said threads.

12. A string of tubing for use in wells comprising a wash pipe, a line of tubing, the inner-di ameter of said wash pipe being greater than the outer 'dia-meterof said line of tubing, a screwthrough joint connecting said wash pipe to said line of tubing, said screw-through joint comprising an outer, internally threaded tubular mem ber connected to said wash pipe and an inner, externally threaded member connectedto said line of tubing and in threaded engagement with said outer member, means releasably joining saidoute r and inner members, the outer diameter of said inner member and theinner' diameter of said outer member being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing and less than theinner diameter of said wash pipe, and a tubular release joint connected to the lower end of said lineof tubing, said release joint having an external thread adapted to receive the internal threadof said outer tubular member and a radially outwardly extending shoulder below said external thread, said release joint also having a lower threaded end, the direction of the thread of said lower threaded end being opposite to the other said threads.

13. A string of tubing for use in wells comprising a wash pipe, a line of tubing, the inner diameter of said wash pipe being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing, a screw-through joint connecting said wash pipe to said line of tubing, said screw-through joint comprising an outer, internally threaded tubular member connected to said wash pipe and an inner, externally threaded member connected to said line of tubing and in threaded engagement with said outer member, means releasably joining said outer and inner members, the outer diameter of said inner member and the inner diameter of said outer member being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing and less than the inner diameter of said wash pipe, and a tubular joint of tubing, a screw-through joint connecting said I washpipe-t0 said line of tubing, said screwthrough: jOiht comprising an outeninternally threaded; tubular memberconnected to said wash pipe, and an inner; externally. threaded member connected to said line of tubing andin threaded engagement with said outer member, cutting teeth on the lowerend of said-outer member, and a plastic packing seal joining said outer and inner members, the outer diameter of said inner e r and the inner d ameter ofrsaid outer member being greater than the outer diameter'of said line of tubing andless than the inner i m r f said- W sh r pe.v

15. In a stringertubing for use in wells, the oombinatiencomprisingia ,wash pipe having a substantially flush-inner surface, a lineof; tubing having a substantially flush outersurface, the inner diameter of said wash pipe being greater than the outer diameter oi said, line of tubing, saidwashpipe being longer axially than said line of tubing,-a screw-throughjoint connecting; said wash pipe to said line of tubing, said screwthrough joint comprising an outer,= internally threaded tubular member connected-to" said wash pipe'and an inner, externally threaded member connected to said line of tubingand in threaded engagement with said outer member, cutting teeth on the lower endofi said outer m mber, and a shear pin releasablyjoining said outer; and inner members, the outer diameter of said inner member andthe inner diameter of" said outer member being, greater than the-outerdiameter of said l n o tu in a d 1e s-than th nn iameter of said wash pipe. 1 a

v 16. In a string, of tubing-for u e-inwells, the combination comprising a washptpe having a substantially flush inner suriacaa line of tubing having a substantially flush-outer surface, the inner diameter of said wash pipe beinggreater than the outer diameter-of said line: of tubing;

said wash pipe being longer axial-1y than said line of tubing, a screw-through joint connecting said wash pipe to said line of tubing, said screwpipe and an. inner, externally threaded member connected to said line of tubing and in threaded.

en agement with saidouter member, cuttin teeth on the; lower end of said outer member, and means refleasably joining said outer and inner members,- the: outer diameter of said inner member-and the inner diameter of said outer member being greater than the-outer diameter of said line of tubing and less than theinner diameter of said wajsh pipe.

- 17-. In a string. of tubing for use in wells, the combinationcompri-sing a wash pipe, a line of tubing; the inner diameter of said wash pipe being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing, a screw-through. joint connecting said washhipe to said line of tubing; said. screwthreugh joint comprising an outer, internally threaded tubular member connected to said wash pipe and an'innen'externally threaded member connectedto said line of tubing and in threaded engagement with said outer member, cutting teeth on the lower-end of said outer member, and means releasably joining said outer and inner members, the outer diameter of said inner memher and the inner diameter of said outer member being greater than the outer diameter of said line of; tubing and less than the inner diameter of aidwash rip 18. Ina string of tubing for use in wells, the combination comprising a wash pipe, at lineof tubing, the inner diameter of said wash pipe being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing, escrow-through joint connecting said wash pipe} to said line of tubing, said screwthrough joint comprising an outer, internally threaded tubular member connected to said wash pipe and an inner, externally threaded member connected tosaid line of tubing and in threaded enga ement withsaid outer member, and means releasably'joining said outer and inner members,

the outer diameter of said inner memberand the inner diameter oi'said outer member being greater than the outer diameter of said line of tubing and less than the inner diameter of said wash pipe.

- ROBBINS IVE. CLAYPOOL- DAVID 'M. BEST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,521,596 Casey 'Jan. 6, 1925 1,611,831 Gates Dec. 21, 1926 2,436 506 Edwards Feb. 24, 1948 

